Beyond Survival is designed to be gentle and accessible for a wide range of abilities. Activities are invitational rather than mandatory, and participants are encouraged to listen to their bodies and participate at their own pace.

The retreat includes restorative and healing yoga (no prior experience required), relaxed walks around the property, and time spent outdoors in natural environments. Some walking may take place on uneven terrain such as forest paths, grass, or gradual slopes.

Activities are not strenuous or fitness-focused. However, participants should feel comfortable walking at a relaxed pace outdoors and navigating natural ground conditions. You are always welcome to rest, modify activities, or opt out when needed.

Rest and personal time are encouraged. You are welcome to step away, take breaks, or spend quiet time in nature whenever needed. Participation is always invitational.

Our facilitation style is relational, collaborative, and grounded in warmth and authenticity. We believe healing and growth happen through safe relationships, gentle curiosity, and meaningful experiences rather than pressure or performance.

Participants can expect a balance of structure and spaciousness — guided activities alongside time for reflection, rest, and personal choice. We aim to create an environment where people feel welcomed as they are, without needing to share more than they are comfortable with.

We bring complementary strengths to the space, combining clinical experience, nature-based practice, and a shared commitment to creating supportive group environments where participants feel seen, respected, and not alone.

Beyond Survival is intended to be a substance-free retreat in order to support nervous system safety, presence, and shared community wellbeing throughout the weekend.

The retreat takes place at Cheakamus Centre, which is a no-smoking facility. Their tobacco-free policy includes cigarettes, vapour products, and cannabis as part of their commitment to maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment for all guests on campus. There are no designated smoking areas on the property.

We ask participants to respectfully honour both the facility’s policies and the shared intention of the retreat by refraining from alcohol and substance use during the weekend. Our goal is to create a grounded and supportive space where everyone can feel safe and fully present.

We approach this from a place of mutual respect rather than enforcement, trusting participants to help uphold the collective environment we are creating together.

Beyond Survival is facilitated by Registered Clinical Counsellors and nature-based practitioners specializing in nature-based therapy. We are professionally insured and bring over 10 years of experience working with young people and adults navigating complex trauma, anxiety, and overactive nervous systems.

Our backgrounds include Masters-level counselling training, trauma-informed group facilitation, and specialized training in nature-based therapy. Much of our work has involved supporting individuals with complex trauma and PTSD who feel stuck in survival responses and helping create spaces that prioritize emotional safety, consent, and relational connection.

In addition, one of our facilitators holds Wilderness First Aid certification, supporting safe group participation in outdoor environments and enhancing our ability to responsibly facilitate nature-based experiences.

This retreat is grounded in professional ethics, trauma-informed practice, and a deep respect for each participant’s pace and autonomy.

Everyone’s experience is unique, and there is no single outcome or expectation. That said, many people describe leaving nature-based retreats feeling more grounded, settled, and connected both to themselves and to others.

In our experience facilitating outdoor and nature-based group programs, participants often share that stepping away from daily pressures and spending intentional time outdoors allows their nervous systems to slow down in ways that feel difficult to access in everyday environments. Many notice increased clarity, emotional release, or a greater understanding of their patterns and responses.

It is also common for people to feel a renewed sense of connection to nature, to community, and to parts of themselves that may have felt distant while living in survival mode.

Participants frequently describe feeling less alone in their experiences and more compassionate toward themselves.

Rather than dramatic transformation, the shifts are often subtle but meaningful: feeling calmer in the body, more aware of personal needs, and more equipped to carry moments of grounding and reflection back into daily life.

To support this process, optional preparation and integration sessions are available with a Registered Clinical Counsellor. Preparation sessions offer space to set intentions, explore what you are carrying into the retreat, and arrive feeling grounded and supported. Post-retreat integration sessions provide an opportunity to reflect on what emerged during the weekend, deepen meaning and understanding, and gently weave insights from the experience into everyday life.

Cheakamus Centre is located in Brackendale, Squamish, approximately 65–70 km from downtown Vancouver. The drive typically takes about 60–75 minutes via the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway, depending on traffic and departure location.

Close enough to feel accessible for a weekend away, yet far enough to step out of daily routines and fully settle into the natural surroundings.

Cheakamus Centre is located within a natural forested environment, so participants may encounter local wildlife common to the Squamish area. This can include birds, small mammals such as squirrels or raccoons, and occasionally deer.

Larger wildlife such as black bears may exist in the broader region, as is typical throughout British Columbia; however, the centre follows established safety practices and guidelines to support a safe environment for guests.

Our facilitators have experience leading outdoor and nature-based groups and are trained in supporting safe participation in natural environments. Participants will receive simple guidance on respectful and safe interaction with the natural surroundings during the retreat.

We encourage participants to approach the environment with curiosity and awareness while respecting wildlife and following any safety guidance provided.